LA Galaxy's Beckham suffers from asthma

Beckham was seen using an asthma inhaler during yesterday's MLS Cup loss to Real Salt Lake and it was later confirmed by his agent Simon Oliveira that he has had asthma almost his entire life.

"David has suffered with this since he was a young boy, but it has obviously had no effect on his performance," Oliveira said.

"He has never sought to make it public but if it does inspire any sufferer to think they can achieve great things like many other sportsmen have done then so much the better."

It is believed that this is the first time Beckham has been photographed using an inhaler despite the thousands of pictures taken during his playing days with Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and the Galaxy.